Let's Japan.org Debunking Eikaiwa and Ramblings in Japan

This is disturbing:

The farm ministry uncovered 879 cases of mislabeled food products last year but only disclosed 110 of them in order to protect the companies responsible, according to documents obtained from the ministry Saturday.

The 879 cases involve companies that were issued warnings or guidance by the Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Ministry or its regional offices during the year, the documents show. The documents were obtained through an information disclosure request.

A ministry official said it decided not to announce all of the cases because it might deliver "a big social blow" to firms that got caught up in mislabeling through simple negligence or temporary law-infringement cases. It therefore decided only to announce cases it considered "malicious" or requiring orders to take corrective measures.

No, no, no, no,no! This is beyond messed up. How is the public supposed to make informed decisions about the food it eats if the ministry withholds information? For a nation that prides itself on the quality, freshness, and awesomeness of its cuisine, it's poorly served by the Ministry of Agriculture. The fact that the ministry withholds information to prevent "a big social blow" says that it's more interested in protecting profits than protecting the public. It's even more tragic when you consider that the ministry is behind the Food Action Nippon campaign that is supposed to inform the public about food issues and promote domestically produced food.

Right on cue, the Asahi reminds us why it's important that the public is informed about its food with a story about a the chairman of a company arrested on suspicion of labeling Chinese eel as being a product of Kagoshima.

Sadly, modern industrial food and agriculture is about making money. Where money is involved, corners are bound to get cut in the name of making a profit. I'm told that Japan is in the midst of a gardening boom, and it's not hard to see why.

Article on falsely labeled eel

ウナギ偽装容疑、会長ら逮捕　中国産を「鹿児島産」

2009年6月10日15時37分

中国産のウナギを「鹿児島産」と偽って卸したとされる産地偽装事件で、警視庁は１０日、東京都中央区の食品会社「浜伸」会長の中村驥（はやま）容疑者（６７）ら３人を不正競争防止法違反（虚偽表示）容疑で逮捕した。同庁によると、中村容疑者は調べに「自分１人でやった」と供述しているという。

生活経済課と築地署などによると、中村容疑者らは昨年５月、中国で養殖されたウナギのかば焼き３千パック（約５００キロ）を「鹿児島産」と偽り、築地市場の卸売業者に１７１万円で販売した疑いがある。

同課は、中村容疑者らが０７年９月～０８年８月、産地偽装したウナギ約５０トンを築地市場の水産卸を通じて都内のスーパーなどに販売したとみている。売り上げは約２億１千万円、利益は約８千万円にのぼるという。

捜査関係者によると、中村容疑者はこれまでの任意の調べに「国産ウナギの流通が低迷しており、産地を偽装することで市場が活性化しているように見せたかった」と説明していたという。

この事件をめぐっては、東京都が昨年７月、ＪＡＳ法に基づき立ち入り調査しようとしたが、浜伸側が拒否したため、警視庁に通報。同庁が昨年９月、不正競争防止法違反容疑で浜伸の関係先２６カ所を家宅捜索していた。ウナギのＤＮＡ型鑑定や、押収した帳簿類からウナギは中国産と判明した。

High oil prices are a serious problem when it comes to food. Peak oil is peak food.